Sunday, February 03, 2008

To Catch an Heiress

Author: Julia Quinn
Published: July 1998 (Avon)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 8/10

To Catch an Heiress is the first of a duology involving two best friends who happen to be gentleman spies. I do love me some gentlemanly spying! I picked this one up after I read the excerpt on Julia Quinn's website. Caroline has been set up by her nefarious guardian, leaving her with his disgusting son with the goal of compromising her reputation, thus leaving her no choice but to marry the son and keep her fortune in her guardian's control. However, Caroline isn't one to follow instructions to the tee, and shoots her erstwhile suitor (merely a flesh wound) instead.

When Caroline Trent is kidnapped by Blake Ravenscroft, she doesn't even try to elude this dangerously handsome agent of the crown. After all, she's been running from unwanted marriage proposals. Yes, Blake believes she's a notorious spy named Carlotta De Leon, but for six weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she'll gain control of her fortune, hiding out in the titillating company of a mysterious captor is awfully convenient - and maybe just a little romantic too.

Blake Ravenscroft's mission is to bring "Carlotta" to justice, not to fall in love. His heart has been hardened by years of intrigue, but htis little temptress proves oddly disarming and thoroughly kissable. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes possible - that this mismatched couple might be destined for love.
Blake's obstacle to true love is his dead fiancee. She was also a spy, and she died on a mission while Blake was ill. He feels responsible for her death, thinking he should have stopped her. After that, he couldn't open himself up to mushy feelings. Caroline realizes her feelings early on, but has to compete with a dead woman for Blake's love.

Entertaining read, full of Quinn's trademark witty banter. James, Marquis of Riverdale (why isn't it marquess?), was great for annoying Blake, and his declaration that he would marry Caroline if Blake wouldn't, was perfectly timed. James' story is told in the second book of the duology, How to Marry a Marquis.

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